BREWER, Maine — A traffic stop in the early morning hours of Saturday turned into a drug bust when police reportedly found three types of drugs — two street drugs and one diverted prescription medication — as well as scales and cash.

Eames told police he had contraband, and “while searching the car, [police] found cocaine and clonazepam,” he said.

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Police found 7.5 tablets of clonazepam, which is used primarily to treat seizures and anxiety, and a small bag containing a white power that tested positive for cocaine, the police captain said. He added that a bag of marijuana also was found. Officers determined the cocaine contained the synthetic drug bath salts, he said.

“Due to the number of factors — including the scales and the large amount of cash — Sgt. Pinette felt it was prudent to charge Eames with trafficking in cocaine, bath salts and Schedule Z drugs, clonazepam,” Moffitt said. The trafficking is a felony charge. Eames also was charged with possession of scheduled drugs and possession of a usable amount of marijuana.

Bath salts, a designer drug that became illegal in Maine at the beginning of July, usually contains mephedrone or methylenedioxypyrovalerone, also known as MDPV. Police, doctors and emergency responders have reported signs of paranoia, hallucinations, convulsions and psychotic behavior in users of the drug.

Officer Ed Willey reported that he noticed Eames was squirming around in the back seat of the cruiser during the trip to Penobscot County Jail after Eames’ arrest. Willey notified jail intake officers that Eames might be trying to conceal drugs, Moffitt said.

Brewer police later learned that Eames “tried to swallow a baggie of white powder during the intake process,” he said. “That powder tested positive for cocaine.”

If convicted of the felony drug trafficking charge, Eames could face a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000. He has been released on bail, Moffitt said. (Nok-Noi Ricker, BDN)